System and Method of Manufacture for Establishing Local Payphone Calls Through Long Distance Carrier Switches

1. A system for establishing a local call from a payphone comprising: means for receiving a user entered primary intralata code followed by a number sequence into a telephone company central switch; means for recognizing that the local call is to be routed to a long distance provider based on the user entered primary intralata carrier code and the number sequence, the number sequence indicating that a long distance provider should route the call to an interactive voice response unit; and means for routing the local call to a long distance provider switch.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising means for routing the local call to a telephone company tandem switch for routing to the long distance provider.

3. A system for establishing a local call, comprising: a payphone for initiating a call and enabling a user to manually enter a primary intralata code followed by a number sequence; a telephone company central office switch for receiving the local call into a local telephone company network; a long distance provider switch for accepting said primary intralata code and the number sequence, the number sequence indicating that a long distance provider should route the call to an interactive voice response unit, the interactive voice response unit interfacing with the user and accepting a selection of local calling, a destination number and calling card account identification information; and a data access point for verifying said calling card account identification information.

4. The system of claim 3 , further comprising a telephone company tandem switch for receiving the local call from said telephone company central office switch and sending the local call to said long distance provider switch.

5. A method to establish a local call from a payphone comprising: receiving a user entered primary intralata code followed by a number sequence into a telephone company central office switch; recognizing that the local call is to be routed to a long distance provider based on the user entered primary intralata carrier code and the number sequence, the number sequence indicating that a long distance provider should route the call to an interactive voice response unit; and routing the call to a long distance provider switch.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising routing the local call to a telephone company tandem switch for routing to said long distance provider.

7. A method of making a call, comprising: initiating the call and enabling a user to manually enter a primary intralata code followed by a number sequence; receiving the local call into a local telephone company network; accepting said primary intralata code and the number sequence, the number sequence indicating that a long distance provider should route the call to an interactive voice response unit, the interactive voice response unit interfacing with the user and accepting a selection of local calling, a destination number and calling card account identification information; and verifying said calling card account identification information.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising receiving the local call from said telephone company central office switch and sending the local call to said long distance provider switch.

9. A calling method comprising: receiving a combination of a user entered primary intralata code and a number; recognizing that a local call is to be routed to a long distance provider based on the user entered primary intralata carrier code and the number, the number indicating a long distance provider should route the call to an interactive voice response unit; routing the call to a long distance provider switch; and at least one of terminating the call or terminating the call to a destination phone at least based on input received at the interactive voice response unit.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising verifying a calling card.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising storing active calling card accounts.